Operating rates across primary lead smelters unchanged on week 

SHANGHAI, Jul 12 (SMM) – Chinese primary lead smelters in Henan, Hunan and Yunnan provinces maintained regular operation in the week ended Friday July 12, and this kept the average operating rate of the three areas unchanged on the week, at 55.9%. 

Production in other areas in China, however, climbed this week as smelters resumed after maintenance. Guangxi Hechi Nanfang restarted its smelting lines this week. Henan Minshan smelter planned to recover on July 20, and Henan Yuguang will reopen by the end of July. 

No new maintenance schedule was heard so far across primary lead smelters. 

SMM expects July-August to see a production recovery of refined lead, which is set to weigh on lead prices. 

This week, primary smelters in Henan operated at an average rate of 68.4%, smelters in Yunnan at 42.3%, and Hunan smelters at 43.4%, all standing flat from the previous week.